Automobile buffer and attachment therefor



se i. 11, 1923. I 1,467.390

G. A. LYON AUTOMOBILE BUFFER AND ATTACHMENT THEREFO Filed Nov. 23 192245 which is quite desirable in many cases.

Patented Sept. 11,1923.

" UNITED STATES GEORGE ALBERT LYON, OF PHILADELPHIA, PENNSYLVANIA.

AUTOMOBILE BUFFER' AND ATTACHMENT THEREFOR.

Application tiled November 28, 1922. Serial No; 602,679.

I. y T all whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, GEORGE ALBERT LYON, a citizen of the United statesand resident of Philadelphia, county of Philadelphia,

State of Pennsylvania, have made a certain new and useful InventionRelating to Automobile Buffers and Attachments Therefor.

. This sppl-ication'is a partial continuation of'myapplicationSerial'No. 358,239, filed February 12',-1920,andfrenewed February 4,1921,-as1 Serial No.534,275, and Serial No. 592,940,; filed October7,1922; that is, this case contains subject matter taken therefrom.

This invention relatesespecially to auto- 16 mobile bufiers with whichmay be combined brace bars'or' transverse supporting members or butterportions which'may be secured or. connected-to the two frame'membe'rs-ofthe automobile or other vehicle to reenforceand 20 stren hen them andalso support the buffer there rem. Forthispurp'ose 5 send framey,

ends which may be riveted or 0t erwise con" nected to'the forward. endsor portionsof the usual channel section frame members of the vehiclemay'advantageously be provided withheads or sup' orting portions whichmay have" e'substantia ly vertical contactface, if desired, and also oneormore cooperating aligningporti'ons to be enga ed by ribs or flanges onthe epoperating be or member or brace bar portion. This transversebutler supporting member or brace bar portion-may advantageously be of sring channel construction and. may be bolted each of thesnpporting headsor frame ends as by having one or more bfolts pass. through thebrace barmember so as to engage the frame end. in a horizontal or verticaldirection and thus tightly bolt or clemp the butfor member thereto. Thismakes a' strong and neat method of attachingthe boiler to the antomobileand simultaneously gives a strong and reliablereenforcing connectionbetween the front ends of the frame memqbfirs is form of attachmentpisparticularly desirable for b'ufl'ers which are installedas part ofthe reguler automobile equipment and attached to the automobiles beforethey are sent out from the factory where these special supportingframe'ends may be installed This transverse supportin or brace barportion of 1 buffer may, if desired, have its ends bent upward in somecases beyond the frame end connections so that these end. connectingbufi'er front is desirable in this connection and .maycomprise severalrecni'orcing or overor otherwise securedto other illustrativeconstructions.

portions may be arranged, if desired, several inches above the frameends so as to correspondingly raise the connected buffer elements' whichmay be of any suitable con struction; although if the brace b'nr oonneo-00 tor ends are, horizontally in line with the frame ends to which theyare secured, the buffer is somewhat more strongly supportedv undercollision conditions. A Lyon type lapping spring strips or memberspermanently or ndjustably connected together and. preferably having endloops and inturned connector portions which may be clamped or connectedto the end connector portions of the brace bnr member, if desired. Insome cases, however, a spring channel front memher or vertically widefront plate of flanged or channeled construction may be used in thebuffer front and may be connected to separate sprinp strip end loopportions supported in any desired way from the frame ends so .aspreferably to connect them to gether and have a laterally bracing actionthereon. In the accompanying drawing showing in a somewhatdiagrummaticway various illustrativecmbpdiments of this invention: Fig..1 is a. plan view partly in section showing ah illustrative bufferconstruction. Q Fig. 2 is a transverse section thereof takensubstantially along the line 2--2 of Fig, l. 'Fi'gsu3, 4 and 4 are plainviews showing 9i) "Fig. 5 is a front view of the brace bar portion.shown in Fig. 4; x

Fig. 6 is an enlarged transverse section thereoftaken along the line(i--6 of Fig. 5, and i Figs. 7 and 9 are similar transverse sec tionsshowing modified constructions, and Fig. 8 is a plan view ofanotherillnstrative buil'er. v

Fig. 1 shows an illustrative buffer which may have a front plateofsingle or double vertical width, as desired, and suitably connected tothe lnturned connecting ends or front connector! ortionsflfi, 3; ofspring strip materis-lt nthis instance one or two suchffring stripsa'rnsed'e'ach comprising an en loop 27 and an inwardly curymg resilientportion Qfi which may have inturned rearconnector portions or, ifdesired, may have a single rear connecting or support 110 {sci-lionextending across rear of miter preieinbiy in connection with a where,for instance the supporting member is dire lily connected thereto. Allthese ports in, course be enclosed and held 6 gether ired form ofclamping or connec such for instance as the special recessed frame theenclcoing elm vres indicated in Fig. 1 in ec'tion with 'lne supporting01. brace bar portions of the buffer may s indicated in Fig. 2 beclamped 01 conn cted to supporting bosses l5 whicl'i end on one or bothsides 1e specie. ends rigidly connected .nneQ-d frame members 0r .1...convenient means for onnectom these ports may be used and as indicatedthe supporting may be formed with an integral supporting or securingportion 16 extending Within the channeled frame member and welded,riveted or otherwise connected thereto in way, This suppo ting ooss maycourse accommodate end of the l spring 23 which may hunger bolt 14;passif desired. This supformed with a recess as to accommodate the oneor more spring strips constituting this supporting brace be? portion ofthe buffer and 1- 1; or rectangular sectioned recess of i .icter maysupport the fiat sectioned V indicated in :2 in connection i or moresupporting chumps such as l 1 ey in arranged around these rte andstrongly clamped upon the same by n tightening bolt passing through efeds 2 of this clamp. it is usually ad- 2-1:. egecns to form the one ormore bosses provided on each frame member with a re tuiner hip; orportion such as 21 projecting to zit least a slight extent beyondcooperating face of the which may substantially lint or vertical, ifdesired.

clamp of wrought 0? mal- 131 may be su'l'hcicntly expanded .3 o er thisretainer portion and coed inside the some which defiarts in thissecuring posil 3 J .l oi-other resilient rem channel 5, l two suchsupporting Leeneoo clamps 17 may be used on each supporting boss orfrane end and in this way an amply strong and rigid connection may besecured between the supporting or brace bar portion of the buffer andthe frame ends so as to considerably strengthen and reenforce themagainst lateral yielding and breakage.

Fig. 3 shows another form of construction in which the supportingor-brace bar portion may be a single strip of springsteel or otherresilient material having the .outwardly extending connector portions 62and the curved portions 63, 64 which er resilient yield to the parts. Ile buifer front may in this instance comprise one or more strips havingend loops 58,59 and inturned connector portions or ends 60, 61 to beclamped or connected to the cooperating connector portion '62 as by theenclosing clips 70, 71. When as illustrated the impact receiving orfront portion of the butler comprises two overlapping strips 56, 57 a.considerable degree of lateral adjustment is thus seer d and these frontstrips may be o any desired adjusted position by the enclosingclamps 68,69. The supporting portion 65 of this type of buffer may be similarlyclamped orconnected to the automobile frame members in the mannerpreviously described, or if desired,- other supporting devices may beusedon this orother illustrated types of construction, and for thispurpose separate spring strip or other attaching members, which may beclamped or connected to the automobile frame members, may be formed withthe usual bent connector portions so that they can be connected as bythe clamping devices or clips to this supporting or transverse portion65 of the buffer. It is thus unnecessary in all'cases to directlyconnect this or the other types of buffer to special supporting bossessuch as illustrated in Fig. 2. z

n the illustrative arrangement! shown in Figs. 4 and 5 the reartransverse sup porting member or brace bar portion 6 may be formed of achanneled spring steel section of such size as to substantially fit thevertical face 3 of thesupporting frame end or head 1 shown in Fig. 6.The stiffening flanges 7 on this member are preferably.

arranged to extend rearwardly so that at least one of these flangesengages one of the aligning edges or faces 2 of the heads to a which themember may be clamped or bolted in any suitable way. For this purposethe head may be provided with one or more threaded apertures 4 toaccommodate the threaded ends of bolts such as 5 which may pass throughsuitable holes or slots in the transverse spring channel or othersupporting member s that they hold this member securely in positionagainst the contact faces of the two cooperating hoadsL These ve great-1 claimed as new and what is desired to be.

'trame members and each having a spring hanger connection and asubstantially vertical front contact face to be engaged by the innerrear face of the channel sectioned transverse butter member,tlie'rearwardly extending flanges thereot engaging and being aligned bythe adjacent aligning.

edges on said heads, bolts )assing through said transverse n'icn'il'ieraudexteriding into said head to clamp the parts together in mutuallyrcenforcing position and a. mop crating butter front of spring steelstrip comprising; a double strip butler trout and end loops and inturnedconnector portions to beclampel to the connector ends of said transversebutler membeix.

' 2. The automobile buffer comprising a transverse rearsupporting-member of channel sectioned spring steel having connectorends, cooperating built-in supporting "frame ends permanently connectedto the forward ends of the automobile frame members and each having aspring hanger connection and asubstantially vertical front contact faceto be engaged by the inner rear face of the channel sectioned transversebuti'er member, the rearwardly extending flanges thereof eupaging; andbeing aligned by the adjacent aligning edges on said heads, boltspassingthrough said transverse member and extending into said head to clamp theparts together in mutually reeiiforcing position and a cooperatingbutler front of spring steel strip comprising iii-turned connectorportions to be clamped to the connector ends o said transverse buffer,member. 3. The automobile bufi'er comprising atransverse rear supportingmember of chan- Y nel section having outwardly extending connector ends,cooperating supporting frame ends connected to the forward ends of theautomobile frame members, and having a spring hanger connection and asubstantially vertical front contact face to be engaged by the innerrear face of the trans verse bufl'er member, a rearwardl extendingflange thereof engaging and being aligned by the adjacent aligning edgeson said transverse member and said head to clamp the parts together inmutually reenforcing position and a cooperating buffer front comprisinginterned connector portions clamped to the connector ends of saidtransvers buffer member.

tually menace tending flange thereof engaging and being aligned by theadjacent aligning edges on said heads, clamping means cooperating withsaid transverse member and said head to'clamp the parts-together inmutually reenforcing position and a cooperating but?- er frontcomprising connector portions clamped to the connector ends of saidtransverse butl'er member.

5. The automobile buffer comprising a rear supporting transverse buflermember or angular sectioned spring steel having out- Wardly extendingupwardly bent connector ends, coopera-tin built-in supporting frame endspermanenty connected to the forward ends of the automobile framemembers, and each having a spring hanger connection and an aligning ed eand an adjacent sub stantially vertical ront contacts-face to be engagedby the inner rear face of the transverse bufl'er member, the rearwardlyextending flan e thereof engaging and being aligned by t e adjacentaligning edges on said heads, bolts passing through said transversemember and extendirn into said heads to clamp the parts together inmutually reenforcing position and a cooperating builcr trout of springsteel comprising end loops and inturned connector portions to be clampedto the connector ends of said transverse bufi'er member.

6. The automobile butter comprising a rear s11 porting transverse buffermember of angu ar sectioned spring steel having outwardly extendingconnector ends, cooperating built-in supporting frame ends permanentlyconnected to the forward ends of the automobile frame members, and eachhaving a sprin hanger connection and substantially vertica front contactface to be engaged by the inner rear face of the transverse buttermember, bolts passing through said transverse member and extending intosaid faces to-clamptheparts together in rail- .enforcing positionand acooperating be at front of spring steel comprising end loops and.inturned connector portions" to be clam ed to the connector ends ofsaid transverse ufler member.

'7. The automobile bufier comprisin a new supporting. transverse bnfiermom or of anq'ula'r section having outwardly extending up ,onector ends,cooperatin supporting frame ends connected to the of the automobileframe members, and each having a projecting head formed with an.

orivard ends (iii ed to be engaged .cent vertical aligning portion andan adjacent substantially vertical front contact face to be engaged bythe rear face of the transverse butter member, a rearwardly extendingflange thereof engaging and being aligned by tlie'adjacent aligningportions on said heads, bolts passing through said transverse member'andextending into said heads to clamp the parts together in mutuallyreenforcing position and a cooperating buffer front comprising end loopsand inturned connector portions to. be clamped to the connector ends ofsaid transverse butler member,

8. The automobile buffer comprising a rear supporting transverse buffer211: labor of angular section having OlllLWdI'diy extending connectorends, cooperating supp. :tmg frame ends connected to the forward ends ofthe automobile frame members, and each having a projecting head formedwith an I aligning portion and an adjacent front contact 'face to beengaged by the rear ,face of the transverse buffer member, a rearwardlyextending flange thereof engagingandbealigned by the adjacentaligningportions on said heads, clamping means cooperating with saidtransverse member and said heads to clamp the parts together 1n mutuallyreenforcing position and a cooperating bufi'er front clamped to theconnector ends of said transverse butler memher.

9. The automobile bufier attaching device comprisin built-in supportingframe ends permanent y connected to the forward ends of the automobileframe members and having projecting heads formed with springhangerconnections and substantially aligned aligning edges and adjacentvertical front cons tact faces adapted to be engaged by the innor rearface of an angular sectioned transverse bufler member, the rearwardlyextending flange portions thereof being adaptand aligned by the adaccntaligning edges onlsaid heads, there being bolt aperturesaccommodate bolts passing through said transverse member and adapted tosecurely clamp the parts together in mutually reenforcing position andsupport a cooperating buffer front clamped to the outwardly extendingconnector ends of said transverse buffer member. i

10. The automobile butler attachin .devim comprising built-in supportingrarne ends permanently connected to the iorward ends of the automobileframe members and having projectin stantially aligne aligning edges andadjafront contact faces adapted to be engaged by the inner rear face ofan angular sectioned transverse buffer member, the rearwardly extendingof being adapted t e engaged and aligned formed in said heads to headsformed ,with subflange portions thereby the adjacent aligning edges onsaid heads, and means adapted to securely. clamp the parts together inmutually reent'orcing position and support a cooperating buli'er frontclamped to the outwardly extending connector ends or" said transversebufi'er member.

1L The automobile butler attaching device comprising supporting frameends connected to the forward ends of the automobile frame members andhaving projecting heads formedwith spring hanger connections andsubstantially aligned vertical aligning means and adjacent verticalfront contact faces adapted to be engaged by the rear face of atransverse boiler member, the rearwardly extending aligning portionsthereof being adapted to be engaged and ,iigned by the adjacent aligningmeans on said heads, there being bolt apertures formed in said heads, toacommodate bolts passing through said transverse member and adapted tosecurely clamp the parts together in mutuall" reenforcing position.

12. The automobile butler attaching devicecomprising supporting frameends connected to the forward ends of the automobile frame members andhaving projecting heads formed with aligning, means including inclinedwedging ower edges and adjacent vertical front contact faces, acooperating channel sectioned transverse bufier member the rearwardlyextending flange portions thereof being adapted to be engaged andwedgingl aligned by the aligning means on said hea s,- cooperatingspring steel butler members including inturned connector portions'fitting within the flanged endsof said transverse buffer member," therebeing bolt apertures formed in said heads to accommodate bolts passingthrough said trans verse member and means engaging said cooperatingconnector portions and adapted to securely clamp thjpartstogether inInn-- tually reenforcing position and support a cooperating bufferfront.

13. The automobile bufli'er attachin device comprising built-insupporting rame ends permanently connected to the forward ends of theautomobile frame members and having projecting heads formed with springhanger connections and substantially aligned aligning means includinginclined lower aligning means and adjacent vertical front contactfaces,a coo erating channel sec-- tioned transverse bu er member therearwardly extending end flange portions there of being engaged andwedgingly aligned by the aligning means on said heads, oo- 7 operatingsteel strip buffer members including inturned -connector portionsfitting within the flanged ends of said transverse butler member, therebeing threaded bolt apertures formed in said heads to accommodate boltspas'ing through said transverse member and means engaging said cooperz.ing connector portions and adapted to securely clamp the parts togetherin mutually ree-nforcing position.

14. The automobile buffer attaching device comprising built-insupporting frame ends permanently connected to the forward ends of theautomobile frame members and having spring hanger connections and aligning means including lower aligning means and adjacent vertical frontcontact faces, a cooperating transverse buffer member the .rearwardlyextending end flange portions thereof being engaged and aligned by thealigning means on said frame ends, cooperating steel strip buffermembers including inturned connector portions fitting within the flangedends of said transverse buffer member adjacent said contact faces, andclamping means to securely clamp said transverse member and saidcooperating connector portions to said heads in mutually enforcingposition.

15. In attaching devices to detachably support an automobile buffer, asupporting frame end having a rcarwardly extending supporting portionadapted for permanent built-in connection with the end of the auto--mobile frame member, said frame end be ing formed with an integral headto extend forward beyondthe end of said frame member and provided with athreaded bolt aperture for a buffer securing; bolt and having which achanne member is adnp 16. In attacl'iingg support an automobile bu frameend having a supporting portion adaptii with the end or the autumn?beisaid frame end. integral head to or it end of said frame meinl a boltaperture for b I having an inclined r and adjacent subsianti tact faceto which a chnnr frame end having a rearnu entcijniii is, supportingportion. adapted for connection with the end of the automobile framemember, said frame and being; formed with a beyond the and i head toextend. forwar 1 a said trams member ano resided a, bolt aperture forour ing a horizontal air cent substantially which an angular memberadapted to

